Rock Formations - The How, What & Why of Rock Band Names

2PAC

2PAC was born Lesane Parish Crooks, following which his mother, political activist Alice Faye Walker, re-married and took her new husband’s (Lumumba Shakur) Moslem surname, becoming Afeni Shakur. She renamed her son Tupac Amaru Shakur (which means “shining serpent, blessed one”) in 1972 and moved in with Lumumba’s brother Mutulu after Lumumba left her. Tupac also recorded as Makaveli, having read and been inspired by 16th-century Italian politician and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli, while in prison.